Summer has arrived, the temperatures have risen and what could be nicer than a pleasant cool down in the cool pool water? To prevent the cooling down from turning into a horror scenario, the water should be clean and not milky murky. This is where a powerful pool pump can help and combat this problem.
This involves pumping the water through the filtration system two or three times a day. After that, all the dirt particles get stuck in the filter. If the pump is not powerful enough, not all the dirt will be caught and the pool water will remain somewhat unclear. In this case, you should get a more powerful pool pump or consider a pool robot if necessary.
In this article, we have compared the best pool pumps and present you with the best models.
Furthermore, we go into all the important details about the various pool pumps in the guide section and report on all the purchase criteria that need to be considered before buying.
Afterwards you will find our FAQ section, where we provide answers to the most important questions. Thus, we would like to facilitate the purchase decision and provide some clarity, because currently there are very many different pool pumps on the market.
- Every sand filter system requires a pool pump, which is an essential part of a pool. In this process, the dirty water is pumped into the sand filter, where the water is filtered and returns to the pool clean!
- It is important that the pump has sufficient power. The power must be adjusted to the size of the pool. If the pool pump has a low power, it is most likely only suitable for smaller pools. A powerful pool pump is suitable for larger above ground pools and in-ground pools!
- During the day, the water should run through the filter system two to three times. The sand filter can become dirty over time and this can be cleaned quite easily. To do this, the water is reversed and instead of flowing through the filter from above, the water now flows through the filter from below and the dirt is carried away into the waste water! If the filter is too dirty, you can also change the sand of the sand filter system.
Table of Contents
The best pool pumps
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Guide: Buying the right pool pump
For every pool owner, the question sooner or later comes up, which pool pump is the right one and what it should be bought for in the first place. A pool pump helps to remove the dirt from the pool and make the water crystal clear again. For a small children’s paddling pool, the use of a pool pump is pointless because the water is changed daily anyway when it gets dirty.
The pool pump is a very important component, which supports the filter system in its work and ensures that the water is passed on to the filter. As the water passes through, all the dirt is passed through the filter and remains stuck in the filter. Afterwards, the pump returns the water back to the pool.
In addition, there is the possibility that the water is cleaned by means of chemicals and pool pump. In this case, the pump distributes chemicals throughout the pool, which remove such contaminants as urine and sweat from the water. If the pool pump is not used daily in conjunction with a filter, algae will form in the pool and the pool water will become cloudy.
A practical pool cover can also help to reduce the pollution of the pool. Consequently, leaves and coarse dirt, for example, do not get into the pool water.
The location of a pool pump
It is best to install a pool pump so that it is always dry and well ventilated. Therefore, garage, basement or technical room are the best places to install the pool pump. It is always important to make sure that the unit is not located too far from the pool.
Got a Bestway filter system? Check out our guide on how to install a Bestway pool pump.
In most cases, a filter system should not be placed below or above the water level of three meters. Furthermore, make sure that the water temperature does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. If the pool pump of this is to be installed above the water surface, it is worth buying a self-priming pool pump.
The environment of the installation site should have a drainage facility, so that the pump does not suffer damage because it got wet.
Once the decision is made on a sand filtration system, you should make sure which sand is best to use. Most manufacturers recommend using quartz sand as a filter medium. To ensure that there are no harmful substances in the sand, it should comply with the DIN 12904 standard.
Unfortunately, this standard is not indicated on the packaging of every sand. In addition, there are different sand grain sizes to consider. The finer the sand, the better the filtering result. It is important to ensure that the sand is not too fine, otherwise it could be washed into the water.
When using several layers and different grained sand, an effective cleaning result is achieved. It should be noted that the sand becomes finer and finer from the bottom to the top. These grit sizes are required for the individual layers:
- First layer = 3 to 4 millimeter grit.
- Second layer = 2 to 3 millimeter grain size.
- Third layer = 0.4 to 2 millimeters of grain.
Where to buy pool pumps?
Pool pumps can be bought everywhere these days. Most people prefer the Internet as a trusted source, with honest customer reviews and guaranteed fast delivery time. If personal advice doesn’t matter much, it’s worth comparing pool pumps on the Internet and buying them from an online store.
Only before buying it is necessary to take into account the size of your own pool and individual needs.
This is how much money is spent on a pool pump on average
The prices of the different pool pumps vary greatly from each other. Mostly, a price between 30 and 350 euros must be expected.
The performance of a pool pump is the most decisive purchase criterion. Also, the material also plays a big role. Some materials are so good that they wear out only slowly and thus a longer service life is guaranteed.
Finally, the type of pump plays an important and decisive role in the price composition. For this reason, we hereby go into the individual pool pump types and show a rough overview of the price ranges:
- The cartridge filter system = 30 to 150 euros.
- The sand filter system = 65 to 350 euros.
- The self-priming pool pump = 80 to 300 euros.
Buying criterias
Before buying, there are some criteria that are essential to consider in order to buy a good device. These are mainly these criteria:
- Power consumption and the power output
- Maximum power
- Delivery head
- Different connections
- Water protection
- Maximum water temperature
The power consumption and the power output
The power consumption is the maximum power that a pool pump can deliver. In principle, it can be expected that as the power output increases, the power consumption will also increase. However, this is not true in every case.
Electricity costs will increase if the pool pump is powerful and has to completely circulate a large pool. It is not worth buying a low-power pool pump for a pool, as a good cleaning result is not guaranteed. A high quality pool pump, well adapted to the pool, should be able to completely circulate the water in the pool twice in about 8 hours.
The modern pool pumps have a balanced ratio between the circulation power and power consumption.
The maximum power
At the maximum power or also called flow rate, we learn how much water a pool pump can circulate in one hour. The higher performance ensures that the pump has to run less time and the pool gets clean faster. For this reason, the pool pump should be matched exactly to the water capacity of the pool.
The delivery head
The delivery head is also decisive for the performance of the pool pump. This describes the height to which the water can be conveyed from the pool to the pump. The pump’s delivery capacity will decrease if the distance and height difference are too high.
Therefore, before buying, it is important to consider this purchase criterion without fail. Otherwise, you run the risk that the pump is too low performance.
The different connections
When choosing the right pool pump, the connections play a huge role, because they must fit exactly to the hoses of the pool. The pump will not connect at all if the connections do not match. Some manufacturers include special adapters in the scope of delivery.
The water protection
The pool filter system usually has a water protection, so that the motor is not attacked by the water and broken. Here, there are different classifications to consider before buying. For example, IPX4 stands for protection against splashing water.
If the pump has the classification IPX5, jet water may be held on the pump. Nevertheless, it is recommended to place a pump under a roof so that it is protected against rainwater.
The maximum water temperature
Some pool pumps are sensitive to a too cold or too hot water. Therefore, manufacturers specify at what water temperatures pool pumps should be used. We strongly recommend adhering to these specifications, otherwise the filtration system may break down.
As a rule, the temperature range is between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius. If the pool pump is to be used in a whirlpool, it is necessary to buy a pump designed accordingly for the whirlpool. After all, temperatures in a hot tub are sometimes higher than 35 degrees Celsius.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about pool pumps answered
How much time at a time to run a pool pump?
At this point, it all depends on the size or water capacity of the pool. During the day, all the water should be moved through the filtration system one to three times. In addition, the degree of contamination of the water plays an important role in the duration of the running time.
In most cases, a pool pump will not run more than six to eight hours a day. In the beginning, the running time should be kept well in mind to avoid senselessly high electricity costs. After all, the water in a pool may be crystal clear after only four hours.
How often is a pool pump backwashed?
The pool pump itself must also be clean so that it can filter the water. To do this, the sand must be cleaned. In principle, most manufacturers recommend backwashing once a week. As a rule, such an operation takes no more than 5 to 20 minutes.
In summer, the pool is used much more often, and for this reason it is recommended to clean the filter system two or three times a week. Furthermore, the sand should be changed every two to three years.
Is it necessary to turn off a pool pump during rain or heavy thunderstorms?
To prevent a power surge, it is recommended that the pool pump be turned off just like all other electronic devices. However, the pump may continue to run if it has comprehensive water protection. It is essential to ensure that the pump has IPX4 splash water protection.
However, IPX5 water protection is recommended, as this protects the system from water jets. Furthermore, the cable must be sealed with a rubber, so that it does not come to a short circuit.
Conclusion
The right pool pump can make the difference between a clean pool and a dirty one. For larger pools, pumps that have a high capacity are particularly suitable. For smaller pools, pool pump performance is not quite as important. The cleaning of the filter system must be done regularly, so that the pool water always remains nice and clear. For this, you should backwash the sand filter system.
In this article, we have presented you the best pool pumps that are currently available on the market. In addition, we have provided you with everything you need to know about pool pumps and clarified important questions in our extensive guide. We hope that we were able to make your decision to buy a pool pump easier and wish you continued enjoyment with your pool.
